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First ever RCS student accepted to Governor’s School

By Anderson Clayton

Bullhorn Editor

Roxboro Community School (RCS) junior Alycia Parker made history this week by being the first RCS student to be accepted into The Governor’s School of North Carolina.

As the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically gifted high school students, The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a five and one-half week program that integrates academic disciplines, the arts and unique courses.

Parker was nominated to apply for the program, and attended an informational session in early October to learn about the application process, along with a question and answer session with students who attended during the summer of 2014.

“Students who shared their experience spoke passionately about the things they gained in their experience, not only academically, but also socially and culturally,” Parker said. “I knew then that I had to apply, not only because of the nomination, but also because of how much love everyone had for the program.”

The application process involved writing two essays, each one page in length.

Parker said, “The essays were pretty rigorous, because I had the freedom to write about anything that could be encompassed into the prompt.”

There was also an experience form to explain why two specific activities were important to the applicant. Parker had to have two teacher recommendations as well.

Parker was accepted to the Social Science Program, which runs from June 16-July 24 at Meredith College.

“I chose to apply to this program because I love history,” Parker said. “After taking Advanced

Placement United States history last year, I became even more interested in the analysis and discussion of history that went beyond memorization of material. I hope to follow a college path that involves studying a social science related topic.”

During her summer program, Parker will discuss contemporary concepts that relate to many different fields of social science, along with examining these topics from a domestic and international perspective. A lot of the work is based on reading excerpts and discussions of contemporary works of various styles.

Parker was honored at RCS in a surprise assembly, in which her parents and Principal Darkarai

Bryant presented her flowers and congratulated her.

“I was ecstatic when I found out about my acceptance. I’ve been running around all week trying to get in touch with Mr. (Justin) Bettendorf, (managing executive eirector) Mrs. Brozy, and Mr. Bryant to find out if they’d received the decision in the mail. I was really surprised today because everyone had kept the decision a secret,” said Parker.

Parker feels this experience will aid in her future plans, because it will help further develop a focus in social science, an area she is planning to pursue as a career.

Parker said, “I think Governor’s School will also help me narrow down the list of colleges I want to apply to. Right now, I have a very long list of colleges I am exploring, but with the elective at GSE titled ‘choosing a college’ I think it will be perfect for enabling me to refine my options for the future.”

After high school, Parker hopes to attend Georgetown University and pursue a major relating to history and language, and then go on to law school, or to work in public policy.

“It feels surreal that I am the first RCS student to be accepted in such a prestigious program. I am very excited, and I hope that my acceptance is the first of many for RCS students who may follow in my footsteps in the future,” concluded Parker.